On Tuesday evening, the Windham Town Council voted to disband the PRIORITY Task Force, a committee implemented in March of 2006 as part of the town’s comprehensive plan to rewrite zoning ordinances.

The vote was 5-1, with Councilor Carol Waig as the lone dissenter. Waig motioned to postpone the vote until all council members were present. Council chairman John McKinnon was not present at the meeting.

The council also voted to terminate task force facilitator and certified planner Elizabeth Della Valle as an independent contractor with the town. The termination was effective Wednesday morning. The town of Windham has paid Della Valle $45,000 since her hiring in October of 2005.

According to councilor Blaine Davis, Della Valle’s contract was written “very, very loosely” so that she could work on side jobs as the town manager saw fit. For instance, Della Valle assisted with interviewing candidates for the town planner position. Davis said that since the task force is no more, there was no reason to drop Della Valle’s contract.

Also, Brooks More has been hired as town planner, and Davis believes his hiring in April diminished the need for Della Valle’s services as well.

“She was a facilitator for the task force, and she is no longer needed,” said Davis.

Before voting, Councilor Kaile Warren took time to express that he and his fellow councilors were thoughtful in their decisions.

“I think it’s important for the citizens of Windham to know that our decision hasn’t come in haste,” said Warren.

During public comment, Windham resident Tom Gleason expressed to the council his dissatisfaction with the job the task force has done since its formation in March of 2006.

“A lot of work went into (the implementation of the PRIORITY Task Force) and it did nothing but waste time,” said Gleason.

Town Clerk Linda Morrell read a letter addressed to the council from Michael Shaughnessy, a former town councilor who lost re-election in June. The letter cautioned councilors against getting rid of the task force, saying that such a move would send the wrong message to Windham residents.

“It is an affront to the whole notion of citizen participation in town affairs and will only further negate any public desire to serve on town committees…to disengage this effort will be seen by many as a vote for the status quo,” said Shaughnessy.

The PRIORITY Task Force was a name for members of various town boards working as a cohesive group. According to Town Manager Tony Plante, the council’s decision effectively reversed the decision to bring boards together, and they will now return to working as separate entities, unless the council decides otherwise.

Plante said he would like town officials to live up to the vision of the Comprehensive Master Plan that was drafted in 2003, which is meant to preserve land in the increasingly commercialized town of Windham. The major purpose of the task force was to update the town’s ordinances, some parts of which haven’t been revised since the 1970s.

“Ultimately, I would like to see the town have the ordinances it needs to meet the challenges of ongoing development, whatever it takes to get that done,” said Plante.

Councilor Kaile Warren addressed that issue following Tuesday night’s meeting, saying, “there will definitely be an effort to move forward with the comprehensive plan and the new ordinances.”

Elizabeth Della Valle did not return phone messages, offering no comment at press time.